Broken Hearts [First Order]

[Aram Kalast]

Just off the preliminary border line of the Virgillia no-entry zone. ​

The starlings collapsed into stars, and with it the Star Destroyer Pruviel had arrived. Standing on the command walkway, hands clasped stiffly behind his back was Admiral Wolf Deesat, his eyes glared out at the far-flung planet floating like a perpetual reminder of what was to come in the vast black surrounds of space and he had to take a moment to sit there and wonder exactly what he and his men were doing here.

“Admiral.” A dutiful voice came from behind him.
Taking a deep, calming breath Deesat turned towards the young lieutenant who had come to his attention. “Yes.”
The Lieutenant was everything Imperial, right down to stopping two steps behind the Admiral until he had been gestured forward.
That was hardly a surprise though, this ship, this crew. They were all the utmost example of what Imperialism meant, they had no real choice otherwise. They had sworn into this life with their very souls.
“We have the initial reports of the sensor-pings, the read-outs determine that this is the place.” The Lieutenant extended a data-pad, which was taken by the Admiral therefor allowing the young officer to salute and then fall back to his resting position at the rear of the command bridge. Cautious eyes scanned the data pad before glancing to his own left, where silent as ever was the command chair of the star destroyer.

It was time then.

“Open channels. Hail the local First Order Navy.” Deesat declared. “Indicate the message as follows…”


::This is the Star Destroyer Pruviel. Offering the unconditional surrender of Ex-Supreme Commander Aram Kalast. I repeat. We surrender.::

 

[Progflaw99]

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Bridge of the FIV Hammerheart, Allegiance IV Class Star Destroyer​

CO: Senior Captain Ephraim Tarkin | XO: Commander Ina'aren'nuruodo​

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Unknown: [member="Aram Kalast"]​

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- - -​

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A near permanent sneer had developed upon the Captain's features as he stalked the bridge. Since the merge with the First Order, Ephraim's life had been turned upside down and inside out. Relocating was hard enough but as could be expected, having First Order officers aboard what had been his ship hadn't set well with him. It wasn't so much that he didn't trust them - though surely a consideration, but also the now Captain always felt as if they were watching. Waiting to report back to the Admirals that they were no longer fit for duty. As could be guessed, the First Order officers weren't exactly happy about having to report in to an officer from the former Galactic Empire. It was a tenuous relationship aboard the Hammerheart, often times First Order officers found themselves saddled with more collateral duties, mess duty and sanitation just two of the Captain's favorites, or so it seemed.

Ephraim had attributed the current environment aboard the vessel as the cause for his less than prestigious assignment to the borders of the Home Sector. *Shoehorned again.* he thought bitterly. Not only was the post one of the few many rookie officers were assigned, but it was boring. No major trade routes to patrol, no real threat from the outer edges of the Rim. For all intents and purposes, it was a post where they could stash the former Rear Admiral and forget about him. *Fething rock patrol*. The assignment dictated they keep an eye for 'anomalies' and unusual asteroid activity. *You can only run the drills so many times before you risk over training - and what are we supposed to do after that?* Ephraim was none too pleased with his order, that much was certain.

"Captain, another formation of rocks detected thirty degrees off our starboard bow. Thirty thousand kilometers out."​

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*As if there would be anything else out there.* he thought to himself. He would have said it but instead he instructed the eager ensign to plot it on the charts. It had been his fifth detection of the hour. Three had been debris clouds, slow traveling - not at all a threat to anything but the lightest of civilian vessels. The other two had been literal space trash. A collection of debris and garbage that some trawler had no doubt let go in the void of space instead of paying for disposal. Ephraim let out a sigh from where he stood on the bridge gazing out at the great beyond. It stayed like that for several minutes before the Captain's imagined solitude was broken again by that same ensign.

"Sir, another detection. 35 degrees off port bow.. Si-"​

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"Goddamnit Ensign, so help me if it's another rock formation I'll have you assigned to mess duty fo..." Ephraim's eyes opened wide as he saw the readouts on the console. "Carry on Ensign."​

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A quick "Yes Sir" followed. "Sixty thousand kilometers and closing fast - looks to be... the size of a Star Destroyer Sir. Not broadcasting any known IFF Tags."​

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"Bring the formation to Red Alert. Battle stations."​

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They'd detected the Pruviel before they'd transmitted, as the small flotilla readied for battle the words came through the comm.

::This is the Star Destroyer Pruviel. Offering the unconditional surrender of Ex-Supreme Commander Aram Kalast. I repeat. We surrender.::​

​

The name meant little to the Captain but he could tell by the hushed gasps of some of the First Order personnel on his bridge that it was a name they were familiar with. Opening a comm line as they prepared to receive their unexpected visitor, Captain Tarkin ordered his ships into a defensive formation. With all eyes on the Galactic Southern border this could be the precursor to an attack aimed to catch the Order off guard.

:: Star Destroyer Pruviel, stand down your weapons and shields immediately. Any change to the status of your weapons systems after reversion will be considered an act of war. I say again, stand down your weapons and shields and prepare to be boarded upon arrival. ::

 

[Aram Kalast]

[member="Ephraim Tarkin"]

It was done then.

The message which had been sent would currently be playing in the ears of First Order communication officers around the sector, from there it would pass to captains, to admirals and probably wouldn’t stop until it was on the personal player of the Supreme Leader himself.

It made Deesat slightly nervous, enough to break his posture and begin pacing across the command bridge as they waited for a response, for word that they weren’t going to be blasted out of space even if it would be more desirable then the potential firing squad they would face on the ground.

“We have a hail.” The communication was sent through from the pit, addressed to the entire bridge, after all it was all of them involved, not just the senior officers.

:: Star Destroyer Pruviel, stand down your weapons and shields immediately. Any change to the status of your weapons systems after reversion will be considered an act of war. I say again, stand down your shields and prepare to be boarded upon arrival. ::

There were several moments of apprehensive silence, then from the command chair a voice broke through, sending everyone into attentive concern.

“Do as they say.” Aram himself spoke. “Shut off all combat systems and functions. Have it locked behind contingency twelve. Then patch back through, let them know we are ready to receive.”

Their was a series of dying hums as systems became locked and in-operable. The Star Destroyer becoming no more then a floating life-support.

:: Unknown Star Destroyer, this is Pruviel, all demands have been met. We stand-by to receive your boarding team. ::

Aram stood from his command chair and adjusted the dark grey uniform that hugged his form. Bright blue eyes reflected the stars from without until he turned towards Deesat. “Walk with me, let us go meet our fate.”

 

[Progflaw99]

"Sir, they've complied. All weapons systems are offline, shields as well."​

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"Excellent. See to it that the boarding teams are dispatched. I want the Captain of that vessel aboard posthaste."​

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"Aye Aye Sir."​

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The exchange had been quick, all the pieces set to motion. Whomever this Aram Kalast was, they claimed to be the Ex-Supreme Commander. Ephraim didn't like the connotations implied by the prefix 'Ex'. Inputting a series of commands via the bridge's command console he sent a priority communique towards Dosuun and the High Command. They would want to know of this development. That, and though he was confident in his abilities on the battlefield, the old Naval Captain knew he was out of his depth.

"Commander, with me. Lieutenant Commander Crux, you have the bridge."​

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Brisk footsteps took the Captain quickly from the bridge, down a series of turbolifts and into the primary starboard hangar - the hangar to which the shuttle of Storm Trooper escorts would arrive. If all went well, with the Ex-Supreme Commander. In his wake, the Chiss XO, "Aarenn" followed, silent as ever. She had served beside the Captain during his time as a Rear Admiral in the Galactic Empire before its collapse. High Command had seen fit to keep them both assigned to the same vessel, neither of them complained. There was safety in familiarity. As the shuttle came into view and passed through the shielding, Ephraim tugged on the front of his uniform and rolled his shoulders. They had arrived.

[member="Aram Kalast"] | [member="Robogeber"] | [member="Natasi Fortan"]​

 

[Aram Kalast]

[member="Ephraim Tarkin"] | [member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Robogeber"]​

To say you could cut the tension within the shuttle with a knife would be the understatement of the century. After the initial exchange between the stormtrooper major and Aram who had, along with his XO, entered the shuttle with no attempt to fight back, which was honoured by the stormtroopers themselves, many of whom would have heard tales of the blue-eyed officer they had just taken aboard.

“Remember,” Aram spoke to his closest friend and second officer. “This has the potential to spell doom for both of us, and if that is the case I am sorry.” He offered a wry look towards Deesat who had been made to stand opposite his commander as they travelled the distance back towards the First Order line.
“It was my decision to follow you.” Deesat offered, “Right into hell if you told me too. Right into hell.”
“Which I…if I may add, just asked you to go right into the very middle of.” Aram almost laughed, yet he remained as stoic as ever.

The shuttle landed with a soft release of air and released it’s ramp to the black polished floor. The patter of stormtrooper boots marching echoed as the squadron removed itself from the shuttle immediately followed by the mousey blonde, blue eyed Aram who for the first time in many years stood upon a First Order vessel.
He took a deep breath and was led towards what seemed to be the command element currently stationed at the far side of the hanger.

He would be polite. This was not his ship, he would not speak out of turn.